"Ang Ginharian sang Dios malapit na sa inyo"

Ebanghelyo subong nga Adlaw (Lucas 10:1-12)

Huwebes (Oktubre 3)

Sa tapos sini ang Ginoo nagpili sing 72 ka mga tawo kag iya sila ginpadala sing tag-duhadoha sa pag-una sa iya sa tagsa ka mga banwa kag duog nga iya pagakadtuan.

Nagsiling sia sa ila, “Malapad ang alanyon, pero diutay lang ang mga mangangani. Gani magpangamuyo kamo sa tag-iya sang alanyon nga magpadala sia sing dugang pa nga mga mangangani sa iya alanyon.

Lakat kamo! Ginapadala ko kamo subong mga karnero sa tunga sang mga lobo.

Indi kamo magdala sing kahita, ukon puyo, ukon sandalyas. Indi kamo magdulog sa pagpanamyaw bisan kay sin-o sa dalan.

Kon magsulod kamo sa isa ka balay, magsiling kamo anay, ‘Paghidait sa sini nga balay.’

Kon ang nagapuyo dira tawo nga mahidaiton, ibilin sa iya ang inyo panamyaw sang paghidait. Kon indi sia mahidaiton, bawia ninyo ang inyo panamyaw sang paghidait.

Magdayon kamo sa sina nga balay, magkaon kag mag-inom sang ginaamuma nila sa inyo, kay ang manugpangabudlay dapat hatagan sang iya suhol. Indi kamo magsagad saylusaylo sing dalayunan.

Kon magkadto kamo sa isa ka banwa kag ginaabiabi kamo, kauna ninyo ang ginaamuma sa inyo, ayuha ninyo ang mga nagamasakit sa sina nga banwa, kag magsiling kamo sa mga tawo didto, ‘Ang Ginharian sang Dios malapit na sa inyo.’

Pero kon magsulod kamo sa isa ka banwa kag wala kamo ginaabiabi didto, kadto kamo sa mga dalan kag magsiling, ‘Bisan ang yab-ok sang inyo banwa nga nagatapik sa amon mga tiil amon nga taktakon batok sa inyo. Pero dumdoma ninyo ini, ang Ginharian sang Dios malapit na kuntani sa inyo.’

Nagasiling ako sa inyo nga sa Adlaw sang Paghukom sobra pa ang silot nga pagabatunon sadto nga banwa sang Sodoma.”

Prayers:

“Lord Jesus, may the joy and truth of the gospel transform my life that I may witness it to those around me. Grant that I may spread your truth and your light wherever I go.”

***

Reflection of the Daily Gospel:

What kind of harvest does the Lord want us to reap today? When Jesus commissioned seventy of his disciples to go on mission, he gave them a vision of a great harvest for the kingdom of God. Jesus frequently used the image of a harvest to convey the coming of God’s reign on earth. The harvest is the fruition of labor and growth – beginning with the sowing of seeds, then growth, and finally fruit for the harvest. In like manner, the word of God is sown in the hearts of receptive men and women who hear his word and who accept it with trust and obedience. The harvest Jesus had in mind was not only the people of Israel, but all the peoples (or nations) of the world. John the Evangelist tells us that "God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16).

What does Jesus mean when he says his disciples must be "lambs in the midst of wolves"? The prophet Isaiah foretold a time when wolves and lambs will dwell in peace (Isaiah 11:6 and 65:25). This certainly refers to the second coming of Christ when all will be united under the Lordship of Jesus after he has put down his enemies and established the reign of God over the heavens and the earth. In the meantime, the disciples must expect opposition and persecution from those who who would oppose the gospel. Jesus came as our sacrificial lamb to atone for the sin of the world. We, in turn, must be willing to sacrifice our lives in humble service of our Lord and Master.

What is the significance of Jesus appointing seventy disciples to the ministry of the word? Seventy was a significant number in biblical times. Moses chose seventy elders to help him in the task of leading the people through the wilderness. The Jewish Sanhedrin, the governing council for the nation of Israel, was composed of seventy members. In Jesus’ times seventy was held to be the number of nations throughout the world. Jesus commissioned the seventy to a two-fold task: to speak in his name and to act with his power. Jesus gave them instructions for how they were to carry out their ministry. They must go and serve as people without guile, full of charity and peace, and simplicity. They must give their full attention to the proclamation of God’s kingdom and not be diverted by other lesser things. They must travel light – only take what was essential and leave behind whatever would distract them – in order to concentrate on the task of speaking the word of the God. They must do their work, not for what they can get out of it, but for what they can give freely to others, without expecting reward or payment. “Poverty of spirit” frees us from greed and preoccupation with possessions and makes ample room for God’s provision. The Lord wants his disciples to be dependent on him and not on themselves.

Jesus ends his instructions with a warning: If people reject God’s invitation and refuse his word, then they bring condemnation on themselves. When God gives us his word there comes with it the great responsibility to respond. Indifference will not do. We are either for or against God in how we respond to his word. God gives us his word that we may have abundant life in him. He wills to work through and in each of us for his glory. God shares his word with us and he commissions us to speak it boldly and simply to others. Do you witness the truth and joy of the gospel by word and example to those around you?